A BRAZILIAN student with mental health issues fled Broomfield Hospital and hanged himself with a garden hose.
Paulo Henrique Dias Junior, 34, was found at a business premises at Montpelier Farm, Blasford Hill, Little Waltham, just hours after escaping from the hospital earlier this year.
At an inquest into his death at Essex Coroner's Court, in Chelmsford, on Thursday (November 27), coroner Eleanor McGann recorded a verdict of suicide.
Mr Dias was studying postgraduate business at the University of Essex in Colchester when he arrived at Stansted Airport on May 14 this year, after travelling from his halls of residence.
Described as "mentally unstable" at the time, the inquest heard Mr Dias told airport staff on May 14 that he "wanted to die" as a result "of the crimes committed in Brazil" and he had told people he was "a criminal in my country and I intend to die".
Essex Police said they were alerted to him and his "mentally unstable condition which caused concern" and, as a result, he was taken to Broomfield Hospital by ambulance.
Yet 90 minutes later he ran off, sparking a six-hour manhunt in the hospital's grounds with a police helicopter launched to help look for him, at roughly 2.30am.
At 8.30am Essex Police received a call from a member of the public who had found Mr Dias hanging in a barn.
The inquest heard that Mr Dias had taken a length of garden hosepipe from a nearby property and wrapped this around the roof of a barn.
He had arrived at Stansted Airport at about 11pm the night before and the inquest heard that Mr Dias had told hospital staff that "he wanted to return to Brazil", but later asked them to give him a lethal injection in order to kill him.
Coroner Eleanor McGann said at the inquest: "Suicide has a very high burden of proof, beyond reasonable doubt. When I put all of this together I am satisfied, so I'm sure that Paulo Henrique Dias Junior took his own life."
His father, Paulo Henrique Dias Senior, was left confused after his death, saying that his son was having the best time of his life and had been told he could spend another year at the University of Essex.
Apparently Mr Dias Junior had last visited Brazil in February and was looking forward to returning to watch the World Cup games with friends and family.
He said: "My son was not addicted to anything, he had healthy habits, practised exercises and was active."
His mother Luciméia Maria de Oliveira said at the time: "My son told me on Tuesday he was happy, excited.
"I saw the look on his face on the computer. There was nothing wrong with my son."
If there's something troubling you, or you feel you need support, contact The Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90
